Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) is a program for parents, educators and child care providers, which has been offered throughout the United States since 1976. The series of classes consists of 9 sessions held in-person and on tape and CD.  What follows is a brief course description by session.

Note: Throughout the workshop, participants work on applying the STEP skills to challenges posed by children such as fighting, sharing, food issues, disrespect, schoolwork, interrupting, sleeping and clean-up.

1) Overview of the Program

2) Positive and Negative Behavior

Looking at children’s motivations for cooperative and uncooperative behavior.  Participants are shown how misbehavior often stems from children’s discouragement.  Much of the remainder of the course provides the skills needed to help discouraged kids become encouraged ones.

3) Emotions/The Responsible Caregiver

Understanding how children sometimes use emotions such as crying, tantrums and whining to involve adults.  The class teaches adults how to respond in an effective way to these emotional "performances." This session also discusses ways to be a responsible caregiver rather than an autocratic or a permissive caregiver.

4) Encouragement vs. Bribes and Other Rewards

How to help children become internally motivated to cooperate.  This approach provides a constructive alternative to external rewards, which actually bribe children in order to gain their compliance.

5) Reflective Listening: Listening to Children

How to listen to children with empathy.  Empathetic listening shows children that their feelings are heard.  This skill helps caregivers become “approachable adults.” Kids are willing to confide in "approachable adults" at age 6 and at age 16.

6) I-Messages: Getting Children to Listen to You

This session teaches I-Messages, a method of speaking to children about their misbehavior without nagging, yelling, lecturing or criticizing.  With I-Messages, children are receptive to the adult’s requests for cooperation.

7) Exploring Alternatives

Caregivers find out how to help children learn to handle their problems and conflicts on their own.

8) Consequences vs. Punishment

Consequences are a logical and respectful alternative to punishment.  Participants find that misbehavior diminishes when children begin to learn from the consequences of their actions.

9) Putting It All Together

In this final session, participants work on applying the STEP skills to challenges posed by adults.  This class also deals with including children in decision-making, conflict resolution and chore distribution through weekly family or class meetings.